mandatory reconsideration - suitable aids

momoney11

Hiya im looking for advice please.

My DLA has just been renewed and they have awarded me high rate mobility and low rate care. I believe I should qualify for middle rate care and have put in for a reconsideration. They have sent me a statement of reasons, which was very generic but it basically states:


During the day:
You need help to – wash and dry yourself, use a bath or shower, dress and undress

Although you have difficulty you don’t need help to:
Manage your toilet needs, move about indoors, eat and drink, manage your treatment and medication.

You are aware of common dangers

Preparing a cooked main meal

You need help to: use a cooker

Conclusion

Help with getting around outdoors

You are unable or virtually unable to walk, so you are entitled to the higher rate mobility.

Preparing a cooked main meal

You need help to prepare a cooked main meal for one person.

During the day

Using suitable aids, you don’t need help from someone several times right through the day.
You don’t need supervising right through the day to prevent substantial danger to you or others.

During the night

Using suitable aids, although you need some help with your personal care from someone, this is not needed more than once or for 20 minutes or more a night.

You don’t need someone to be awake to watch over you at night often, or once for up to around 20 minutes, to prevent danger to you or others.


So basically they are saying that if I had suitable aids such as grab handles etc I wont need help to wash and use the toilet therefore dont qualify for middle rate care.

I did state that because of my condition I need to urinate frequently throughout the day and night. I am in pain and have barely any strength in my legs or arms. I frequently get dizzy and feel like im going to faint and im constantly exhausted. I need help to get up and down the stairs, shower/bath, I did state that I cant use a stool placed in the bath for a shower as I dont feel steady on it and I dont have the strength to pull myself up from things like grab rails and banisters on the stairs. Even with these suitable aids I still need help.

I sent letters from my specialists (rheumatologist, immunologist and occupational therapist) which detail my condition and symptoms, and was hoping they would contact them for more info but instead they just wrote to my GP who I only really see when I have a sinus infection and need antibiotics. I get to see my specialists every 6 months or so and they monitor my condition so I dont feel the need to see the Dr.

Anyways im getting myself in a right pickle about what to write as im getting so anxious and my brain just goes blank.

Shall I just concentrate on why even with the 'suitable aids' I still need help from someone?

They have accepted I need high rate mobility so how do they think im able to move about fine indoors, frequently throughout the day without worsening my condition?

Indie_Kid

With higher mobility, it's about walking unaided, They may assume that you could use aids to get around indoors.

If they do mention aids, you do need to explain why a) they don't help and b) any help you need. Whether that's help to use the aid or help you'd need because the aid doesn't fully remove the need for help.

momoney11

Indie_Kid wrote: »

With higher mobility, it's about walking unaided, They may assume that you could use aids to get around indoors.

If they do mention aids, you do need to explain why a) they don't help and b) any help you need. Whether that's help to use the aid or help you'd need because the aid doesn't fully remove the need for help.

That makes sense, thank you.

rogerblack

momoney11 wrote: »

That makes sense, thank you.

In addition.
For PIP, you can't do a thing, if it takes you over half the time that a normal person would take on the task.
It has also to be able to be done safely.

Indie_Kid

And you have to be able to repeat it, don't you?

momoney11

Thank you, that has focused my mind - I knew what I meant in my head but didn't know how to verbalise it.

I know that I am not able to repeatedly and safely do what they say I can with aids several times throughout the day and night, I will still need help as I cannot garuntee id be able to perform those tasks without injuring myself or getting stuck.

I find it really hard to put into words I get such bad brain fuzz but that can get me started and il chip away at it over the next few days and hopefully have something printed off by the end of the week.

Thanks again.

nannytone_2

do you regularly hurt yourself?
if you do, take pictures of any bruises/injuries and send them in.